Accessibility Links

Offensive behaviour Bill ‘promotes sectarianism’

A leading supporter of Celtic Football Club condemned the Scottish government last night for unwittingly promoting sectarianism with its Bill to outlaw offensive behaviour at football matches.

Jeanette Findlay, chairwoman of the Celtic Trust, was speaking after opposition MSPs lined up to attack the SNP Administration’s attempts to tackle sectarianism, condemning its Bill for “deep flaws” that would make “bad law”.

James Kelly, the senior Labour member of Holyrood’s Justice Committee, said that the proposed legislation “was not fit for purpose”. Patrick Harvie, for the Greens, accused the SNP of steamrollering through legislation “in the teeth of consistent and reasoned opposition from all quarters, inside and outside Parliament”.

They were speaking after the Justice Committee — with its built-in SNP majority — voted to support the legislation,…